| 12. Linguistic Exegesis The verse opens with the vav-consecutive verb vatomer {וַתֹּאמֶר | vāṯ-ṭō-mer}, signaling a narrative shift. The indirect object lo {ל֗וֹ | lōw} specifies the recipient. The repeated prohibitive al in al-achi {אַל־אָחִי | al-’āḥî} (“No, my brother”) and al-te’aneni {אַל־תְּעַנֵּנִי | al-tə-‘annenî} (“do not afflict me”) frames a forceful plea, with the Piel imperfect conveying volition. The conjunction ki {כִּי | kî} introduces the reason in lo-ye‘aseh {לֹא־יֽ͏ֵעָשֶׂ֥ה | lō-yē-’ă-seh} (“it shall not be done”), a Niphal imperfect expressing absolute prohibition. The adverb ken {כֵן | kēn} qualifies manner, and the locative be-Yisrael {בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל | bə-yis-rā-’ĕl} invokes communal standards. Finally, the prohibition al-ta‘aseh {אַל־תַּעֲשֵׂ֖ה | al-ta-‘ă-seh} with et-hanevalah {אֶת־הַנְּבָלָ֥ה | ’et-hanne-vā-lā} (“this disgrace”) climaxes the verse, emphasizing both personal distress and national moral norms. |